Mail-pouch receiving and delivering apparatus.



A. HUPP. l MAIL POUCH RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOI FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

974,274. A Patented Nov.1,191o.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. i

dlbef'f @wf-MM MMM@ A. HUPP. MAIL POUGII RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2J,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

Patented Nav. 1, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE. ALBERT lrimer, or KANSAS CITY, Mrssou'EL'A'ssIeNoE TOHU. s. nA-ErD MAIE sEEvIcE co., 0E HEERE, soUTH DAKoTA, A coEPoEATroN or SOUTH DAKOTA.

' MAIL-POUCH nEoErvrNejAND'DEEIvEEJNe APPARATUS.

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov-. 1, 1910.

Application ined August 5, 190s. Serial No. 511,352.

To'all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ALBERT HUP?, a'citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the countyof Jackson and Stateof Missouri, have invented fcertain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Pouch 'Receiving and'Delivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

tion, does not endanger the lives of the train# men and will operate efficiently and reliably.

fith these general. objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which; v Figure 1, is a horizontal section of a mail Carien the line I-I of Fig. 2, said gure also disclosing the chute for receiving mail ouches from the train and the crane for elivering the station pouchesto the car. Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the apparatus shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is an enlarged cross section on the line. III-III of Fig.`2.

i sa' Fig. 4, is a similar View taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, on the same scale asfFig. 3.v Fig. 5, is an enlarged horizontal sec tion taken on-the line 'V4-V of Fig. 2, but with the pouch-receiver expanded or open.

Fig'. 6, is an enlarged side view of the lower.

end of the metallic basket,v fordeliverng pouches Jfrom the train to the station chute. Fig. .7, is an end View of the lowerendof the metallic basket.- Fig; 8, is'a Section onl the line VIII-VIII of Fig. A1. Fig. 9, is a vertical section on'the lineIX-IX of Fig. 1. Fig: 10, is a side View of modified form y of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig.

11, is an end view of the; same. Fig 12, is a plan view on'a reduced scale'of the chute shown by 9,-and 10,." Fig. 13,

.larged plan view broken away, of'

enlarged 4View 'of the upper portion of the basketshown in Fig. 9, and also shows the crane 1n vertical section.v Fig. 14, is an enthe construction shown by Fig. 13. Y,

In the said drawings, 1 indicates the trackway and 2 a mail car thereon provided with the usual side door' openings' 8 and with fhorizontal cranes arranged transversely4 with respect to the car and adapted to be projected through the adjacent door-openingsat times, each crane consisting of a pair of bars 4, preferably ch'annelbars, connected by bracing 5. vThe bars lof the cranes are arranged between pairs of antifriction rollers 6 journaled on hangers 7 depending from Ycross lbars 8 secured in the car above the plane of said door openings.

. To carry the mail pouch or pouches to be delivered to a station, I provide each car with a preferably metallic basket, consisting preferably of four vertical bars 9, two depending from each bar 4 and rigidly connected by cross-braces 10 or otherwise, and terminating -at their lower ends in loops 11 carrying hingerods 12. Each rod forms the `pivotal support of a pair of 4oppositely- .bowed bottom plates 13 conjointly forming a semi-circular bottom for the basket. The bowed plates 13 are provided at vtheir upper corners with hinge-loops 14 through'which the rods 12 extend and between said loops. upon said rods are coiled springs lsecured at 16 to. the .rods and having their outer ends 17 engaging the outer sides of and piessing the said plates yieldingly towardfeac.L other,"

the lower ends of said plates terminating in del ending anges 18,-.one of which is pro vi ed with a pair of outwardly-projecting ears 19 to which is fpi'voted the outwardlyprojecting ears 20 o a trigger, said trigger consisting further of a bod portion 21 t0 underlie flanges 18 when theliaske't is closed, a'tlange 22 to bear against theA outer side of the ange 18 not equipped with the ears 19, and a depending stem 23. This trigger by roo engagement with opposite sides -o the` flanges 18' prevents one or` more small pouches arranged in the basket as showny in Figs. 2 and 3, romorcin the bottom plates 13, apart, it being nud pouches arranged in superposed relation is erstood that the "weight of the .mail pouch'or a series of mail adapted to instantly vvforce thebottom plates 13, apart when.4 inotlodked ,together by the l, after -which lthe crane is.ruii out to dis.

pose the basket in the position. shown in Figs: lai. d 3 iiiost` clearly, that is in such l position that the trigger willstrike and be l l'tripped'to the position shown in dotted lines Fig-L 7, by the trippingaria 24,projecting .toward the-trackway from and at the upper when 'not in use, it may hang pendently in the inoperative position indicated by the dotteclline's Fig. 3. -To support it in operative positioii,.the standard also vcarries `a y .,-',tripping'irm, the Oravitative tendency of .the latter being su cient to hold the' parts l in their operative position as shown in tfull lines Fig. 3.

' .ce'iviiigend of acliute arranged torec'eive A=the inail. pouch or pouches dropped by-the basket vimmediately the trigger vis tripped, it

being' understoodthat the instant this occurs"Y the bottom plates 13 are foiced apart by the mail pouch-or pouches and that the latter' drop ontothe receiving end of the chute con vstructed as` follows; 29 lindicates a long bot-- tom ,-platef inclined downwardly and forwardly and curved slightly `outward* andl terminating in an upwardly-curved endpor-I rtion 3() disposed outward from the trackway a sufficient distance 'to permit of the passagetherebetween of the basketand the pouch receiver lhereinafter vdescribed.` 31` indicates side walls projecting from the .bottom plate .andof tapering form for thegrea-ter part' l 4of 'their length, the front ends ofJ said 4side walls curving upward to the plane of the top of-po'rtions 30. An endplate 32 connects the sidewalls and portion 30 and a,- short curved lportion 33 vconnects the concave edges of the side walls with the end plate 32 and hinged v'by such Shoulder in its at 34 tothe rear or lower edge of portion 33 v isa pendentxdoor 35 which engages a slioulder 36 on the bottom plate 29 and is limited rearl .iard 'swinging movement. I i,

The'speed'at which the train is moving 'compels the mail pouch or pouches dropped into the chute to slide forward-therein with i more orless force and strike or swing door upward and enter the closed or upturned portion which overcomes tli'e momentum of I the pouch or pouches and causes them to rslid'cbackf against the door 35 which by gravity returns to its original position against shoulder 36 before the pouch lor pouches slide back as explained, and to eneiid 'o a 'standard 25, said tripping-arm being hinged at 26 to said standard so that hinged brace 27 adapted atk its free end toA engagethe notch 28 in the iiiiderside of the able the station yagentor other person iiil (-.liarge to remove the pouch'oi` pouches collected, the chiiteis provided with a. door 3T ii its outer side wall, which door is adapted to lire4 normally locked in any suitable inanner and is supposed to be .opened only by aii authorized person.

It will be understood of coiii'se that the two cranes in the car /will seldom be in servy ice at the saine time and that usually the rearone will be employed Vfor delivering inail to the station chute. If it is desired to receive inail from the. station into the same car, the. front basket will be removed aud the front door opening 3 will be equipped .with a pouch-receiver of sufiicient depth 'vertically to easily. receive a vertically irranged pofuc'li, thesaid pouch-receiver ybleing disposed to clear the upturned end of thechute. Said pouch-receiver consists 4of a-curved plate 3S hinged at 39 a suitable distance from its inner end to the car, aiid diveieging forward with respect to the Side of the car, the inner end of the plate proy t n e jecting transversely into the car so ,as to reg rlhe trippiiigfarni is arranged at the re.

ceivev the impact of, and cheek the speed of'a .'eeiverA The upper and lower front corners Vof plate 38 are connected 'by chains `40 to the sideof the carto'prevent the pouch i from swinging the 'plate outward beyond its proper expanded or opened position. IThe l fabric 41 fastened iiiaiiy suitable manner to portion proed with al iy which the pouch-receiver may be conveniently swung to closed or op'enpositioii. The spring-clamp is equipped with a pivi receiver collapsing or closing under the iin' pact of. a pouch on said portion, which-aiin will be tripped by the person in c ontiol preliminary tothe collapsing or closing of permit tliereceiver to becollapsed autol inatically under the impact of a pouch eh= ,tering the car. To guard against. viiiii betitiupriiito the door opening w ien th pouchpouch or seriesl of pouches entering the rethe 'upper and lower edges of plate 38 and i 'plate 42 fitting iii'the Haring mouth.

plate 38 being equipped with a handle 454 oted arm' 46 to bear against said inivardly the pouchreceiver, If desired the brace 46 l may be thrown lto inoperativel position to top and `bottoni of the pouch receiver coup sist's of Ianyl suitable iexiblejinaterial '-or i-ec .ivei is collapsed or closed, I provide l,

. a shield secured to the car and consisting of maisl Figs. 1 and 2, the lower part -oi" the opening 3 occupied .by the 'pouch-receiver -being closed by' removable doors 49,- as shown in nthe last-named igurel It will also be seen by reference to Fig. 5, that a'spring-closed ydoor 49a is employed to close that part' of the opening. 3 withwhich the pouch-receiver communicates, and thus prevent the production of a powerful current of air within the car, the said door of course opening inward under the impact of a pouch entering the car and reclosing automatically after the pouch has passed.

- To deliver one or more pouches from the stationto the car by way of the pouch-receiver, a crane'issecured adjacent to the trackway forward of thechute, said crane consisting of a pair'of standards 50 suitably braced as at 51, and a pair ofV hinged frames, the lower one consisting oita pair of arms hinged at 53 to the standards in a plane vbelow the trigger-tripping-arm 24, and a bar 54 connecting the inner ends of said arms fand provided with eye-bolts 55, said frame being adapted to hang pendently downward when not muse. he upper frame conslsts of a pair o'bars 56' adapted to rest upon the upper ends of standards 25 and hinged tothe same at their outer sides at 57 and weighted at their outer ends at 58 so as to automatically'swing to a vertical or inoperative position. when not in use, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 3, the inner ends of arms 56 being connected, byja bar 59 equipped with ,depending forwardlyturned hooks G0. f

61 indicates pouches arranged vertically and equipped at their upper endswith stout ropes or equivalent flexible connections (i2-- terminating in loops 63 at their upper ends for engagement 'with said ho'oks 60, `the pouches being also equipped-gwith compara-v tively weak dependingcords orI flexible connections 64 tube-secured atl their lower ends being arranged inthe pathfofthe pouchre-` vceiver, so that th'e'upper chain '40 Athereofj pouches shall successively enter the pouch-y lco receiver and: be directed thereby 'through the' opening 3,'the inwardly-projecting portionV of. the pouch-receiver checking the speed of movement -of the pouches as hereinbefore explained, and: causin them to ydro uponfthe Hoor of the earorinto a recepten' 55 (not shownlfegrranged withimthe car to' "receive them, this reception of the pouches ipositi'on ofthe pouches on the crane being ,indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1.

' Referring now to Sheet 3 in whichparts. corresponding to those described are identi- .fied by thesame reference characters, it will be noticed that the mouth of the receiving chute is disposed at a greater altitude than in the preceding figures and that `it is in the form of a `rectangular tube for its full length, the top. and bottom of the tube at its mouth or receiving end being disposed respectively below and above the pouch or pouches adapted to be received thereby, it being also noticed by reference to Figs. 1() and 11, that the upper inner corner of the chute at its mouth or receiving end. iscut away ornarrowed at 65, so as to avoid anyV possibility ofV being strttck by the pouchg receiver of thecar when said receiver' is in its" expanded vor open position to receive the pouches carried by the station crane. The apparatus disclosed by Sheet 3 also differs- `from that disclosed by Sheets l and 2 in -that it is not equipped. with a trigger-tripping mechanism and the train pouch crane lor carrier is of different construction.

In the constructionshown by Sheet 3, the

-bars 4 carrya horizontal frame 66 depending from'the same is two sets' of hangers 67 carrying a pair of slide-bars 68 extending parallel with thelongitudinal center of the car andfengaged at their oppositeends by arms v69 and 70 pivotally pendent from said frameA 66, arms 69:being connected by retractile springs 71 to hangers 72 also de pending from said frame 66, which springs tend to pull arms 69' away from the 'slidebars. Similar springs 73 connect pivoted arms with the adjacent hangers 167 to press'said arms 70 against the adjacent ends. of said slide bars. The .hangers 72 andthe hangers 67 near the opposite end 'of' `the slide rods, are' equipped with laterally-projecting arms 74- and` 75 respectively,and'engaging said arms are the looped upper ends of a pair of cables 76 andy 77 which forma basket for the sup# port of a pouch ora series of pouches ar- -vranged' in superimposed relation as shown clearly' in Figs. 1 1' and 12,r 4the springfactn -ated pivoted arms'70 holding said 'cables reliably in position against the wind-pressure developed by the rapid progress of the car. As thefprogress of the latter'brings they basket against the top of'the mouth or receivingend ofthe chute the resistance ot i springs'l istovercome and arms 69- and-fthe :slide-bars GS are forced in the direction iiidicated by the arrow, 13, such inove` "o ted arms 70 back.

ment of the slide-bars causing the simultaneoiis movement. of the ends 77 ot' the =.(.fablesof the basket and overcoming the resistance of springs 73 and swingingthe piw As a result of this. ae- `tion thelooped upper ends of the cables are `di'senaa-e'ed or sli ed from ie arms 74 and v75 of'hangers 72 and 67 respectively, and saidcables with the pouch or pouches, enter the` chute and slide forwardly therein, the impetus given the pouch or pouches by the -m`ovement 'of the car causing them to slide up the upturned end of thechute. As their momentum 1s overcome they gr'avitate back toA the lower part they are removed at theproper time by the ylects the pouch or poucheson crane as liereinbefore explained. j

' gironi the above description it will be apparent that I have 'person-in control at thestation, it being understood. that in the construction shown by sheet 3, the pouch-receiver'of the car colthe station produced an apparatus `of the character describedwhich will perform itsfunction eiiiciently which? is-susceptible of modification-in minor and reliably and "particulars -without departing frdm vthe 1. An apparatus of the I character 'de-I 1 spirit andscope or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the appended claims; v-

' Having-thus described the invention whatV I claiinas new -the direction of travel of the car and the former in the"opposite direction,.a station`- vcrane arrangednear the trackWay fdrward of the chut'eand adapted for detachably sup first-named meansito Athebasket to move andthe 1 porting one or `mo path of the Inail thel car,

pouch receiver carried by cranecarried by and capable of being projected from the side of the car or withdraivnftherein, a. basket depending fiom vtlie Erst-named crane and provided with a movable bottoin,'means for normally hold- 'ing said bottom closed, and means near` the receiving endof the chute for tripping" the permit the bottom of f to 'drop linto the chute.

2. An apparatus of the character' described, comprising a station crane and a 4 mail-car pouch receiver, the latter facinghin the direction of travel of the car'and/ the former in the opposite direction; a-statioii' crane arranged nearthe' traekway forward of the chiite and adapted for detachably4 supporting one ormone mail poiiehes in thepath of the mail pouchfreceiver carriedby the ear, a crane carried b vand capable of being projected fromv the side of the car or withdrawn therein, a basket depending from of thechnte, from which 'f remail pouches l in the front end of said pouch or pouches the last-inlined crane and provided with a movable bottom, a pivotcd trigger normally holding the bottom of the basket. closed, and means near the receiving end of the chiite, for tripping said trigger.'l i

3.An apparatus of the character described, comprising a station chute and a inail-ear pouch receiver, the latter facing in the. direction of travel lof the car and the former in the opposite direction', a station crane arranged near the traekway forward of the chute and adapted for ldetachably supporting one or more mail pouches iii the path of the mail pouch receiver carried by the car, a crane carried. by and l'capable of being projected from the side of the car orwithdrawn therein, a basket depending from the last-named crane and'provided with a movable closed, consisting of two curved plates held yieldingly together at their lower ends, a trigger pivoted to one of said Vplates andv cngaging the other to hold them together, and means near thereceiving end ot'the chute for tripping said trigger.

4. Inan apparatus of the character described, a car provided with a door opening and a collapsible pouchreceiver, consisting of a plate extending outward from the rear .edge of the door opening beyond the front 4edge thereof and a flexible top and bottom connecting the said plate with the adjacent .side of the car.

5. In an apparatus'of the character described, a car provided with a door opening and a collapsible pouch-receiver consisting `of a plate extendiiigoutward from the rear edge ofthe door opening beyond, the front edge thereof and a flexible top and bottom connecting the said plate with the adjacent, side of the cai. and' cables connecting the plate to the adjacent side of thecar. i

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a car provided with a 4door opening and a collapsible pouchl receiver communi-l eating with said opening and comprising a plate hinged at its rear end to the rear edge of the door opening and extending diverg- `ingly1forward with respect to the car and liievond the front edgev of said opening. and a Hexiblc'top and bottom connecting the upper and lower edges of said plate with the adjacent side of the car.

bottoni, a. pivoted trigger 'normally holding the bottom ofthe baslict '7. In an apparatus of the character described. a car provided with a door opening, a collapsible pouch-receiver communicating with said opening and comprising a plate -hinged at its rear end to the rear edge of the door opening and extending diveigiiigly forward with respect to the' ear and beyond the front edge of said opening. and a flexible topjand bottom connecting the upper and lower edges of said plate with the adinto and out of the car, thc outward portion j extending forward beyond the front edge of said opening and adapted to swing inward against the adjacent side of the car, anda flexible top and bottomconnecting the outer portion of said plate with the adjacent side of the car.

9.`In an apparatus of the character described, a car provided with'a door opening and a collapsible pouch receiver consisting of a curved plate hinged to the rear edge of the door opening and projecting therefrom into and out of the car, the outward portion extending forward beyond the front edge4 of said opening and adapted-to swing inward 'against the adjacent side of the car, a flexible top and bottom connecting the outer portion of said plate with the adjacent side or" the car, and a door yieldingly closing the pouch receiver and adapted to open inwardly of the car.'

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a car. provided with a door opening and a collapsible pouch-receiver consisting of a curved platehinged to ythe rear edgeA ofthe door opening and projecting therefrom, into and ont of the car, the outward portion extending forward beyond the front edge of said opening and adapted to swing inward against the adjacent side of the car, a flexible top and bottom connecting the outer portion of said plate with the adjacent side of vthe car, and. means for engaging the inwardly-projecting part of the pouch-receiver to .prevent the collapse of thesame.

11. In anapparatus of-thecharacter described, a carv provided with a door opening and a collapsible pouch-1eceivcr consisting .of a curved plate hinged to the rear edge of the door openin and projecting therefrom into and out of t e car, the outward portion extending'fforward beyond the front edge of said opening and adapted to swing inward a ainst the adjacent sideofthe car, and yie ding means for holding the pouchvreceiver in collapsed condition.

" 12. In an apparatus of the character described, a car provided' lwith a door opening and a collapsible pouchlr'eceiver consisting of a curved plate hin ed to the rear edge of the door openin an projecting there romv into and out of t e car, the outward portion' extending forward beyond the front edge ot said openin and adapted to swing inward a ainst t ,e adjacent sideof the car, a llexibe top and bottom connecting the .I vouter ortion ofsaid pl'atl'j with the adjacent side o the car, .andv a headed plate projecting rearwardly from `the inwardly-,projecting portion of the pouch-receiver plate, and a spring clamp to receive saidheaded plate and lock the pouch-receiver in collapsed condition.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a car having a door opening, a craneI movable 1n and out ,of the 4door opening, a

'basket depending from the crane `land -consisting of upright side portions, a pair of bowed plates hingedly attached atv their upper edges to said side portions and t`erminating at their lower or inneredges in depending langes, and a trigger below the bowed plates' and -pivoted`to one of them atl the rear side of itsflange and provided with a flange engaging the front side of the flange of the 'other bowed plate. l-

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a car having a door opening, a crane movable in and ont of `the doorkopening, a basket depending from the crane, and consisting of upright side portions, a pair of bowed plates hingedly attached kat their upper edges to said side portions and terminating at their lower or inner edges in depending flanges, a trigger below the bowed plates and pivoted to one of them at the rear side of its llange and provided with a flange engaging the front side of the flange of the other bowed plate, andy springs tending .to swing the flanged edges of said plates together.

15.'In an apparatus of the character described, a car having a door opening, a crane moyable in and out of the door opening, a basket depending from the crane and consisting of a set of front and a set o f rear bars, transverse rods connecting said bars, a pair of bowed plates pivoted at their upper ends on said bars and provided at their lower ends with depending flanges,

springs secured to said rods and bearing against said bowed plates to press the flanged ends toward each other, andy a trigger pivoted to the lange of one of saidr bowed plates and provided with a ilange projecting upward and ,engaging the flange of the companion bowed plate -to prevent separable movement of the flanged end of said plates.

16. In an apparatus of -Jdie character d escribed, the combination with a mail car provided wit-h a pouch-receiver communicating therewith and facing in the direction of the car travel, of a station crane, comprising nprights, arms hinged to and projecting inwardly from the uprights below' the plane of the said pouch-receiver, means for holding /said arms in operative position, arms l.hinged to and projecting inward from said uprights above the plane ofthe pouch-'receiver, a bar connecting thevrslt-named arms, a bar connecting the last-named arms, one or more cables pendent from the'lastnamed bar and carrying vertically 'one or more inail-pouches in the plane of the said pouclireceiver,a1id a cable or cables connecting said portion-or portions with-the bar` connecting the first-named arms.

17. In an` apparatus of the character described', the combination ,with a mail car provided With a poiicli-receivcr communicatng therewith anil facing' in the direction of the car travel, of a station 'rane. comprising uprights, arms hinged to and projecting in- .wardlyv from the uprights 'below the planeA of the said pouch-receiver, means Ator hold# ing .Said arms in operative position, ari-ns' .iore inail-pouches in .the planeet' 'the said pouch-receiver` a cable or cables connecting said portion or portions with'the bar Coirnecting the first-named arms` and means for exerting a yielding force on the hinged arms above the plane-oi the pouch-receiver. to swing said arms anil the bar connecting them to anupright vor 'inoperative position when no pouch is suspended from thc last-named bar.

' 18. In an Iapparatus of the character described, a car having a door opening, a crane movable in and out of thc door opcning,an l a basket depending'from the crane and em'- bodying as Iir of members pivot-ally pendent from the crane and adapted for swinging together or apart in a plane parallel with the side 'of the car.` and a trigger pivoted to one of t e said members and engaging the other to hold them together or closed against accidental opening movement.

19.7111 an apparatus ot' the character de-v scribed, a car having a door openintr a crane movable in'antl out of the, door opening. and a basket depending from the crane and embodying a pair of members pivotall)v penilentl from the cranel and adapted for swinging together or apart ui a plane parallel with the side ot' the cai'. and a trigger piroteil to one of the said members and engaging the other to hohl them together or closed against acciilt'uital opening movement. and means for tripping said trigger to permit lthe members ot' the basket to open by swing ing apart. Y l

ln testimoirxv whereofv l aiiix m v signature. ui the presence oi tivo witnesses.

" Hanns (l. Romains,

G. l .t'liionrn 

